Friction-clutch.



BAEEENTED 00T. 6, 1903.

J. H. HBNDR'IGKSM; l

`H0 MODEL.

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PATBNTBD 00T. 6,1903.

J. H., HBNDRIGKSUN. FRIGTIUN CLUTCH. APPLICATION EAILED AUG. 4. y19.02.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

.lllllnl'l'li .llllilllll @MM MA1# iro. 740,564.

Patented october e, ieee.

'PATENT Ormes.

JOHN I-I. HENDRIOKSON, OF BAYBRIDGE, OHIO.

FRlCTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 740,564, dated October 6, 1903.

Application iiled August 4, 1902. Serial No. 118,303. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN H. I-InNnRicKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baybridge, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to friction-clutches, and has for its object simplicity of construction, edectiveness of operation both in engagement and disengagement, ease of manipulation, and economy in repairing,

My invention consists in engaging the outer periphery of the loose wheel or part by means' of two semicircular rings operated from and secured toaspider which is keyed to the shaft.

My invention further consists in details of construction and combination of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure I is a View in front elevation of a friction-clutch embodying my invention. Fig. II is a view in edge elevation or side elevation, showing the mechanism for opening and ciosing the clutch or engaging and disengaging the same. Fig. III is a de tail view ofthe wedge mechanism employed for operating the semicircular clamping-rings.

A represents a Wheel or pulley, which is loosely mounted on a shaft. This wheel or pulley Amay be an annular horizontally-projecting ring which is secured to another pulley or drum or other mechanism adapted to be set into operation through the clutch.

B represents a spider, which is securely keyed to a revolving shaft. This spider projects approximately at right angles from the shaft in diametrically opposite directions and forms a base or support for the clampingrings and Wedges for operating the same, together with the arms for operating the aforesaid Wedges.

C represents semicircular clamping-bands, which are formed of spring-steel of sufficient gage or thickness to spring away from the rim A of the wheel A. These clamping-bands C are formed ofthe same curva-ture as the rim A and are provided on their inner face with friction-shoes ccc c of suitable number, which are preferably formed in segments and secured to said semicircular pieces C by means of bolts, so that they may be replaced When they beconieworn. Other means may be ern ployed for securing the shoes c c c c to the bands C, but preferably such means to allow of the said shoes being replaced when they become worn. At one end the bands C are adjustably secured one to one end of the spider B and the other to the other end ofy the spider B, the adjustment being aecomplished by attaching said bauds to said spider by means of lugs bib, formed upon the spider, and bolts B B',- Which engage said lugs at the respective ends of the spiderB and also engagethe respective ends of the bands C. Lock-nuts may be employed and are preferably employed for the adjustment of these part-s. The opposite ends of the respect-ive bands C are constructed so as to be engaged by wedges D, (shown more clearly in Fig.III of the drawings,) and for this purpose the aforesaid ends are provided with openings or slots d d, through which said Wedges pass, and a hardened cylindrical roller or key cl is provided at the one side of the said slots for the purpose of sustainingl the Wear caused by friction of said wedge with said parts and also for the purpose of allowing said key or Wedge to enter said slots freely. The wedges D slide within openings or ways B2, formed in the outer ends and to one side of the arm or spider B, and the inclination of the Wedges D is such (see Fig. III) that as they are moved 'in one direction the bands C Orare drawn' so as to contact with the rim A through their frictionshoes cY c c c, and 'when said wedges are moved in the opposite direction the said bands C C are released' and spring outward free from the rim A. Thus -it will be seen that as the said wedges D are moved in one direction or another the semicircular bands C C are tightened to or released from said rim A', thus causing the saidrim, with its attached pulley or parts, to revolve With the spider-arm B, which is attached to the shaft,

or to release said bands C C and allow the said spider-arm B to revolve Without causing the rim A and its attached parts to move.

For the purpose of operatingthe wedges IOO D, I provide two pivoted levers F F, which I are pivotally secured to the respective ends of the spider B, as at ff, and also pivotally secured at their outer ends, as atff, to the Wedges B. The inner ends of the arms F F are respectively secured, by means of pivoted links G G, to a sleeve J, which slides on shaft K', and a bifurcated lever, which embraces the annular groove j of the sleeve J, is employed for moving said sleeve in one direction or the other as required, thus moving the link-arms G G, levers F F, and Wedges D D in or out and in turn loosening or tightening the bands C C, as hereinbefore eX- plained.

It Will be noticed that the semicircular bands, With their respective shoes c c c c, are attached at their both ends to the outer ends of the spider B, thus forming a continuous ring completely surrounding the rim A' and engaging it almost its entire periphery when the clutch is set, and hence the pressure of the clutch is in a radial direction toward the axial center of the clutch at almost all points counteracting the centrifugal force in counterdistinction to increasing the outer pressure, as is the case in clutches of this` type heretofore devised, or at least with most of them.

Still another feature of my invention is that the centrifugal force tends to release the bands C C from the rim A', thus getting quick release action and preventing accidental engagement even should some of the operating parts become broken or loosened.

In illustrating my invention and setting it forth as above I have shown certain constructive features and assemblage of parts which I consider bestadapted to attain strength and simplicity and also quick action; butI do not, therefore, Wish to limit my invention to these details or assemblages, inasmuch as many modifications may be employed Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1. rlhe combination with the shaft and the wheel loosely4 mounted thereon, of a friction-band adapted to engage the said wheel, a spideryfixed upon the said shaft and having rone of the ends of the said band secured thereto, and the other end thereof adjustably mounted therein, means arranged in the said spider and engaging the adjustably-monnted end of the said band for causing the same to move into and out of engagement with the said Wheel, and means for operating the said means.

2. The combination With the shaft, the spider, and the pulley mounted thereupon, of a pair of semicircular friction-bands adapted to engage the periphery of the said pulley, said bands having one of their ends secured to the said spider and their opposite ends being provided with openings and being adjustably mounted in the said spider, wedges operating in the said spider and engaging the openings of the said bands and means for operating the said wedges, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the shaft, and the wheel loosely mounted thereon, of a spider keyed to said shaft, friction-band having one of its ends secured to the said spider and its other end formed with a slot, and being adjustably mounted in said spider, a roller mounted in the opening of said band, a Wedge mounted in said spider and being adapted to project through the opening of said band, and means for operating said Wedge.

4. In combination with the wheel, and brake-band having one of its ends formed with a slot, a means for actuating said band into and out of engagement with the Wheel, said means comprising a slidably-mounted member, said member being tapered and passing through the slot of said band, and means for operating said member.

Signed at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, this 1st' day of May, 1902.

JOHN H. HENDRICKSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. IMMEL, M. A. WENNELL. 

